New Bath trail along Kennebec River to foster waterfront development

The City of Bath plans to start construction this spring of a $1.8 million half-mile walking trail along the Kennebec River.

The Forecaster reported that a 600-foot portion extending from beneath the Sagadahoc Bridge northward to Waterfront Park will be developed this spring. A former Guilford Transportation Industries gravel lot, which the state is transferring to the city, is slated to become a park, with children's activities and an approximately 25-space parking lot built beneath the bridge.

The city plans to extend the trail to the 40-unit Bath RiverWalk condominium complex and then have it loop back to its point of origin. Completion is expected in mid-2019, the Forecaster reported.

One of the project's goals "is to open up our waterfront for development activity," said planning director Andrew Deci, who noted that development could benefit from the public amenity.

"We're hopeful that this is a destination that is shared by visitors and tourists as well as locals," he said.